Chapter 4

four

ALEX

The alarm on my satellite phone blasted through the office. I looked at one of my monitors and saw a silver SUV driving past the security camera. Dylan Holmes had arrived.

I hoped the person Ryan recommended was as good in real life as he was on paper. It’s one thing working with someone in an office in town; it’s completely different when my nearest neighbor is a fifteen-minute drive away. If the guy was anti-social, living and working in the same house could be a problem.

Before I opened the front door, I grabbed my jacket. The storm that was supposed to hit Sunrise Bay had changed direction. Instead of two feet of snow, a bitter nor’wester rattled the shingles on the roof, reminding me about the perils of living in a remote location.

The SUV stopped in front of the garage. The driver’s door opened, and I stared at the man climbing out of the cab. Wearing a black beanie, blue jeans, and a padded ski jacket, he looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine .

When he saw me, the man’s hazel eyes widened. “Hello. You must be Mr. Quinn. I’m Dylan Holmes from Bryant Security.”

It’s not often that I’m left speechless. I ran through everything I knew about the person who was supposed to be working with me. None of Bryant Security’s emails mentioned Dylan was in his early thirties and too good-looking for a computer nerd.

“I thought you’d be older.” I cringed. That wasn’t the best opening for the beginning of our working relationship, especially when I was only thirty-nine.

Dylan’s smile froze. “I’m thirty-one. Is that a problem?”

I walked toward him, hoping he didn’t think I was a total idiot. “Of course not. I’d assumed with all the projects you’ve worked on that you’d be older. Are you happy to stay with me in Sunrise Bay?”

“I’ve worked in all kinds of locations with clients. If you’re worried about my safety, I know how to look after myself.”

I wasn’t sure whether that was a warning or a statement of fact. Either way, I needed help with my program, and Dylan was my best bet. “Come inside before we both freeze. You can call me Alex.”

He nodded and pulled two suitcases out of the truck. “Ryan said you have a tight deadline for your project.”

“I need to finish this phase in the next three weeks.” I held out my hand for Dylan’s bags.

“I can manage. They aren’t heavy.”

I shoved my hands into my pockets. I’ve always admired people who are independent, but I had a feeling Dylan’s prickly attitude ran deeper than most.

“It’s just as well your directions for getting here were easy to follow. My GPS lost its signal after I left Sunrise Bay.”

I wiped my feet on the doormat and opened the front door. “It’s one of the downfalls of living here. Ryan said you live in Boulder.”

Dylan nodded. “I grew up there. When Bryant Security offered me a job, I couldn’t refuse.” His eyes wandered around the entryway. A smile tugged at his mouth when he saw the moose antler chandelier.

“It was a present from a friend,” I told him.

Dylan shoved his beanie in his jacket pocket. “It looks great. Did you decorate the house yourself?”

I tried to think of something to say, but my brain refused to cooperate. If I thought Dylan was stunning before, his good looks had just blown everything out the window. His light brown hair, ruffled from being under his beanie, made the green and gold flecks in his eyes sparkle. Combine that with a white button-down shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and I was left with a big black hole of nothingness in my brain.

I cleared my throat and tried to remember his question. I really needed to get out of the house more. “The same person who gave me the chandelier helped me decorate the house.” I picked up one of the suitcases. It was heavier than it looked. “I’ll show you where you’re sleeping. If you need to use another room for your office, you’re more than welcome.”

As we climbed the stairs, I pointed to a door on the opposite side of the landing. “My room’s over there. You can use the main bathroom. If you need extra pillows or blankets, they’re in the linen closet.”

When Dylan walked into the room I’d chosen for him, he sighed. “This is perfect.” Leaving his suitcase on the floor, he walked across to the window.

Pine, spruce, and oak trees surrounded the property. Autumn leaves mixed with evergreens, showcased my favorite time of the year. Something about the clean mountain air made me feel alive. Life slowed down, and I usually had time to enjoy what nature had created. But, this year, I wouldn’t be going anywhere until I’d finished my latest project.

I stood beside Dylan and pointed into the distance. “That’s Lunar Peak. There’s a trail that takes you to the top of the mountain, but I wouldn’t try it now. The weather’s too unpredictable.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

The warmth in Dylan’s eyes stirred something deep inside me. I stepped away, ready to bolt from the room if Dylan looked as though he’d felt the same spark of electricity. “It’ll start snowing soon. When it does, there are some great ski fields in the area.”

“I’m hoping I’m not here long enough to enjoy them.” Dylan frowned. “That didn’t come out right, did it?”

It was my turn to smile. “It’s okay. I’m hoping you aren’t here that long either. If we can fix my program in the next few days, I’ll be the happiest guy in Colorado. When you’re ready to start work, I’ll be downstairs in my office.”

“I’ll be there soon. I just need to get a few things out of my bag.”

I nodded and went downstairs. Working with Dylan would be no different than working with anyone else. Hopefully, in less than a week, he’d be back in Boulder, and I’d be moving on to the second phase of my project.